POGO ‘godfather’ may reveal more info on Guo

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate is poised to invite the so-called godfather of Philippine offshore gaming operations to help provide critical information about dismissed Bamban mayor Alice Guo, her alleged links to POGOs and being a spy.

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian is hopeful that Lyu Dong, also known as “Hao Hao” or the “boss of the boss” who was arrested last Thursday, will reveal more information on Guo, said to be Chinese national Guo Hua Ping.

“Lyu Dong mentioned about knowing Guo Hua Ping, information from him is critical, and I will recommend to the committee to invite him to give testimony,” Gatchalian said in an interview over dzBB radio.

“Let’s see what his relationship with Guo Hua Ping is. Who are the other people, people connected here with Guo Hua Ping? And what is his role in the POGO hub to complete the story?” he added.

Lyu, described as the “kingpin of POGOs,” is “the first high-profile or the first arrest of a high official connected to POGO,” according to the senator.

“And his testimony is important in this investigation,” Gatchalian said.

The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) said Lyu was nabbed at a subdivision in Biñan, Laguna on Oct. 10 by operatives from the Bureau of Immigration and the military based on a mission order.

He allegedly arrived in the country in 2016 and went on to establish multiple POGO hubs across Metro Manila, the Ilocos region, Central Luzon and Calabarzon.

Last week, the Senate committee on women, children and family relations, chaired by Sen. Risa Hontiveros, held an executive session as Guo indicated her intention to reveal more information to help the committee gather more information about its investigation, in aid of legislation, on scamming and human trafficking in relation to POGOs.